Derbyshire completed a 185-run victory over Gloucestershire on the final day at Cheltenham to go top of Division Two.

Gloucestershire were bowled out for 300 in mid-afternoon as their pursuit of a victory target of 486 finished well short.

Resuming on 148-4, Alex Gidman and James Franklin gave the hosts hope by extending their fifth-wicket partnership to 94.

But Gidman's departure, bowled by Tim Groenewald (3-64) for 60, was the first in a regular fall of wickets as Derbyshire closed out the win.

Franklin, the New Zealand international all-rounder, was last out for a defiant 109, his seventh first-class hundred, one of three victims for off-spinner Jake Needham (3-51).

The result sees Derbyshire earn 20 points and move above Gloucestershire into top spot in the Division Two table.

Day three

Derbyshire seamers Steffan Jones and Tim Groenewald took two wickets apiece as Gloucestershire slumped to 148-4 in pursuit of a victory target of 486 at stumps on day three.

Wayne Madsen's career-best 170 not out had allowed Derbyshire to declare their second innings on 323-6 in the afternoon and leave the hosts facing a mammoth run chase at Cheltenham.

Derbyshire resumed on 126-3 and Madsen, the South African-born opener, added 99 runs to his overnight position of 71 to pave the way for the skipper Chris Rogers' closure.

Madsen was well supported by Wavell Hinds (54) and Greg Smith (34) in stands worth 117 and 78 for the respective fifth and sixth wickets.

Division Two leaders Gloucestershire made a promising start to their run chase as opening pair Craig Spearman (27) and Kadeer Ali (44) put on 71.

But Jones (2-39), on loan from Somerset, removed both and Groenewald chipped in with the scalps of Hamish Marshall (0) and Chris Taylor (9) to reduce Gloucestershire to 91-4.

Alex Gidman (39no) and James Franklin (21no) stood firm through to the close with a half-century stand but have plenty more batting to do on the final day.

Day two

Steffan Jones claimed 4-44 at the start of his second spell with Derbyshire as Gloucestershire were skittled out for just 164 at Cheltenham.

The seamer - who enjoyed a successful year with Derbyshire back in 2006 - made an instant impact having recently been signed on loan from Somerset.

His fine spell of swing bowling saw the hosts slip from 121-4 to 138-9 inside the space of seven overs. Alex Gidman offered the only real resistance, hitting nine boundaries in making 55.

Despite holding a 164-run lead, Derbyshire captain Chris Rogers elected not to enforce the follow-on. By the close of play the visitors had moved onto 126-3, extending their advantage to a commanding 288.

Debutant Wayne Marsden was unbeaten on 71 having shared an 89-run stand for the third wicket with Dan Redfearn, who contributed 31.

Day one

Greg Smith and Chris Rogers both survived dropped catches to help Derbyshire to a total of 326 on day one of their LV County Championship match with Gloucestershire.

Smith made a career best 126 having been dropped by Craig Spearman on two, and Australian opener Rogers made 81, after Hamish Marshall spilled a chance off him when he had made only four.

Derbyshire had collapsed to 119 for five shortly after lunch but lower-order batsmen James Pipe (22), Graham Wagg (31) and Tim Groenewald (26) supported Smith well.

Derbyshire captain Rogers won the toss and both he and fellow opener Wayne Madsen (7), making his debut, should have fallen to slip catches in the opening three overs.

Rogers then proceeded to dominate the morning session before being bowled by Jon Lewis after lunch.

Smith batted fluently throughout his innings, hitting 17 boundaries before he was finally caught behind off the bowling of James Franklin with eight wickets already down.

Spearman and Kadeer Ali then safely negotiated the day's five remaining overs, taking them to 10 without loss at stumps.